Missouri
A recent newsletter from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs contains information about implementing legislation enacted last year pertaining to seven-day opioid supply limit, plus information about requesting authorization to install a drop box for taking back drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Pharmacists Association announced the appointment of Sarah Derr, PharmD, as its next Executive Director. She has been serving as Director, Medication Management, for the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative. NACDS congratulates Sarah Derr on her appointment and thanks Marsha Millonig for her service and collaboration with NACDS as Interim Executive Director.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Colorado
HB 19-1077, legislation that allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication beyond 72-hours for drugs, such as insulin and an asthma inhaler, passed both chambers and will be sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) for his signature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas. Call to Action
Pharmacists are urged to immediately call their State Representative to ask them to vote for HB 1278, sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R). The legislation enhances access to immunizations for school-aged children by authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccinations like Tdap, human papillomavirus or meningococcal as well as catch-up vaccines like the MMR vaccine to patients at least seven years of age as authorized by a physician under a physician’s written protocol and without an individual prescription. Best number to call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday is the Arkansas House switchboard at 501-682-6211.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Department published the quarterly Medicaid preferred specialty drug list.
Also in Texas…HB 577 / SB 420, legislation that pharmacies support that would eliminate the requirement to check the prescription monitoring program when refilling certain controlled substances prescriptions, was introduced at the request of NACDS by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) and Sen. Dawn Buckingham. SB 420 was referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee which makes it now eligible for an early hearing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Nevada
Two pharmacists were recently appointed to the Board of Pharmacy. Jade Jacobo, PharmD, JD, RPh, is a pharmacy manager with Walmart, and Gener Tejero is a Las Vegas infusion pharmacist.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Montana
HB 231, legislation expanding vaccinations provided by pharmacists down to seven years of age, has passed out of the House Human Services Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Louisiana
The Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).
Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.
Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy announced the integration of the prescription monitoring program data into electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy management systems across the state. The goal is to minimize any workflow disruption by providing near-instant and seamless access to critical controlled substance prescription history information of patients to both prescribers and pharmacists directly within their EHRs and pharmacy management systems.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Idaho
Gov. Brad Little (R) signed into law HB 10, creating the first multi-state pharmacy licensure compact. The goal is to have a pharmacist’s license function similarly to a driver’s license that would be universally recognized.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
HB 19-1077, legislation allowing a pharmacist to dispense an emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications under certain circumstances to a patient without a prescription, passed the House on January 28. For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Also in Colorado…SB19-079, legislation mandating electronic prescribing of controlled substances which passed the Senate earlier this month without any opposition, will be heard in the House Public Health Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that they are targeting the Medi-Cal pharmacy fee-for-service reimbursement rate changes to begin Saturday, February 23. DHCS will retroactively adjust impacted claims with dates of service between April 1, 2017 and February 23, 2019.
Also in California…The Department of Health Care Services is reminding pharmacies that the online attestation portal opened for fee-for-service Medi-Cal pharmacy providers seeking the higher of two professional dispensing fees as part of the forthcoming reimbursement changes for covered outpatient drugs will end on Thursday, February 28.
Also in California… NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the Senate Business and Professions Committee in support of AB 149, legislation allowing for a staggered implementation of the new serialized number requirement. Under AB 149, serialized numbers on security forms for controlled substances would take effect no later than Wednesday, January 1, 2020. In addition, the measure would authorize dispensers to fill prescriptions written on otherwise valid forms that do not meet the new serialized number requirement until Friday, January 1, 2021.
Also in California… Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order last month that seeks to create a single purchaser for prescription drugs. Specifically, the order seeks to create negotiating leverage for prescription drug costs by moving all purchasing of high-cost, “high-priority” pharmaceuticals to one entity and, with respect to Medi-Cal, all pharmacy services to fee-for-service.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
There are several bills of interest to chain pharmacies that are expected to be heard in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee in the next two weeks, including HB 1278, a bill allowing pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older without a prescription; HB 1164, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription and HB 1269related to substitution of interchangeable biosimilars.
Also in Arkansas…The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB 174, legislation supported by chain pharmacies and Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) that mandates electronic prescribing of controlled substance prescriptions. The full Senate is expected to take action soon.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Nebraska
NACDS submitted a statement to the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee conveying general support for LB 442, legislation that would facilitate pharmacists to provide medication synchronization services.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Colorado
NACDS submitted a statement to the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee in support of SB19-079, legislation that would require Schedule II, III and IV controlled substance prescriptions to be electronically prescribed. The legislation subsequently passed the Senate and was introduced in the House and assigned to the Public Health Care & Human Services Committee.
Also in Colorado…NACDS submitted a statement to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee opposing SB19-005, legislation establishing a commercial prescription drug importation program in the state. NACDS outlined how the legislation would violate federal law against drug importation, undermine federally mandated security protections of the drug supply chain and increase the risk of counterfeit drugs in the state’s drug supply chain and thereby compromise patient safety.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
North Dakota
SB 2231, pertaining to collaborative practice agreements, was unanimously passed by the Senate and has been delivered to the House. NACDS submitted a letter of support to the preceding Senate Human Services Committee process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Nebraska
LB 442, pertaining to medication synchronization, was unanimously advanced from the Banking, Commerce and Industry Committee to the General File. NACDS submitted a letter in support. The Unicameral website featured a short article on the proceedings.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Alabama
Medicaid issued an alert announcing effective Friday, February 1, the agency will begin reimbursing Medicaid-enrolled pharmacy providers for the administration of hepatitis A vaccine to eligible recipients ages 19 years and older. Medicaid will, in addition to the administration reimbursement, reimburse pharmacies for the hepatitis A vaccine.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
There are several bills of interest to chain pharmacies that have been filed, including mandating e-prescribing for all controlled substances (SB 174), allowing pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older (HB 1278), allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives (HB 1164) and permitting substitution of interchangeable biosimilars (HB 1269).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that they are targeting the Medi-Cal pharmacy fee-for-service reimbursement rate changes to begin Saturday, February 23, meaning that DHCS will retroactively adjust impacted claims with dates of service between April 1, 2017 and the targeted February 23 date of implementation.
Also in California…On January 15, the online attestation portal opened for Medi-Cal fee-for-service pharmacy providers seeking the higher of two professional dispensing fees as part of the forthcoming reimbursement changes for covered outpatient drugs.
Also in California…On January 28, NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the Senate Business and Professions Committee in support of AB 149, legislation allowing for a staggered implementation of the new serialized number requirement. Under AB 149, serialized numbers on security forms for controlled substances would take effect no later than Wednesday, January 1, 2020. In addition, the measure would authorize dispensers to fill prescriptions written on otherwise valid forms that do not meet the new serialized number requirement until Friday, January 1, 2021.
Also in California…On January 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order that seeks to create a single purchaser for prescription drugs. Specifically, the order seeks to create negotiating leverage for prescription drug costs by moving all purchasing of high-cost, “high-priority” pharmaceuticals to one entity and, with respect to Medi-Cal, all pharmacy services to fee-for-service.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
On January 31, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on SB19-005, a bill that creates the “Colorado Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drugs Act”, under which the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing shall design a program to import prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for sale to Colorado consumers.
Also in Colorado…HB 19-1077, legislation allowing a pharmacist to dispense an emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications under certain circumstances to a patient without a prescription passed the House on January 28.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Louisiana
The Department of Health Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).
Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Ohio
The Board of Pharmacy published guidance reminding dispensers that effective Tuesday, March 19, they will be required to report certain products containing naltrexone to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). The guidance encourages dispensers to work with their vendors to ensure any system updates that may be needed are in place by the deadline.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pennsylvania
In its first meeting of 2019, the House Insurance Committee favorably reported HB 195, legislation facilitating medication synchronization and requiring insurers to allow for prorated copays and full dispensing fees for partial fills. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric R. Nelson (R) and supported by the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores, now goes to the full House for consideration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Department published the quarterly Medicaid preferred specialty drug list.
Also in Texas…HB 577/SB 420, legislation that pharmacies support that would eliminate the requirement to check the prescription monitoring program when refilling certain controlled substances prescriptions, were introduced at the request of NACDS by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) and Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Monday, January 28, Kapyay® ER will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent. The current Preferred Drug List (PDL) is available on the website.
Also in Maryland…The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Friday, February 15, Reyataz® capsules will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.